Kempston Hardwick - Least Used Station Bedfordshire

The Marston Vale line between Bletchley and Bedford contains the Least Used Station in Bedfordshire ... which changed in last year's statistics!
Thanks to Ian for coming out, and being my local guide & knowledge. We are keeping an eye on the new station stats (for 2018-2019) that are due out in December 2019.
You can see the current ORR statistic for Station Usage are here: dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statist...
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre: bedsrcc.org.uk/ridgmont-stati...

[@Jeagles]

For those who don’t want to skip through the video to find them, this episode’s plastic bin bags in the breeze are at: 2:05 2:31 5:30 Edit: P.S. Never asked if you enjoyed the 313 tour. Did you enjoy it?

[@Jeagles]

Myworld26 Tripple x there’s a joke here that I don’t understand

[@Jeagles]

Liam Williams sorry, I missed a comma

[@Jeagles]

Liam Williams lol sorry

[@Jeagles]

superteddy stephen It’s a joke, you might not get it, Geoff likes bin bags in the breeze

[@davidcollins9512]

Thank you for this public service - I was able to avoid all the unnecessary talk about teacakes (6:06), tea rooms (9:11 and 12:12), timetables (11:52), ticket machines (3:41) and telephones (4:23)...

[@yoville73]

Sign: “Trains stop further along the platform” Graffiti under sign: “IF THEY TURN UP!?” LOL 😂

[@alanrookard4924]

That is something rarely seen, a car actually stopping on an amber light at the crossing. Usually they speed up on a red,

[@BuzzinsPetRock78]

It might have spotted the camera :)

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Alan Rookard Probably wanted to see what was coming!

[@sognsvann3]

Then the series continue

[@davidcollins9512]

Wanted to be in Geoff's video !

[@2H80vids]

I noticed that too. Quite possibly, the presence of a camera affected the driver's decision.

[@alltrainschiltern7995]

Geoff, you are my life inspiration. You are my hero. You keep me out of my misery. Whenever I am depressed or sad, I always come to one of your videos. I don't know how I would survive without you. :)

[@bruceboa6384]

Geoff has the coolest friends.

[@gabri_maybe]

Bruce Boa infact When Geoff Goes out to stations With Friends,He’s Warm with them

[@jwb_]

Nothing better than watching the the least used station in Bedfordshire while waiting for a train at the least used station in Tyne and Wear.

[@tomw0184]

JWB_ which station is that?

[@mrm9082]

it’s interesting that a least used station can have viable streaming coverage.

[@PhippsyAndFrodo]

Manors?

[@iBusLondon]

Ian has to be one of my favourite guest to watch. He was knowledgeable. On brand (All The Station). Hope he makes another guest appearance.

[@christopherwright8388]

The station currently called Bedford St John's is in a different location from the original, which was Bedford's station on the Oxford to Cambridge line. Just to the West of old St. John's the line crossed the old Bedford to Hitchin branch at grade level. I believe the track that is now used to access Bedford Midland station runs on the old Hitchin line alignment. I grew up in Bedford and Kempston.

[@Terry.W]

What a great chap Ian is.. complete with teacakes.

[@annother3350]

He bought your appreciation?! Tea cakes are a good shout though

[@danstratone9291]

Geoff, I'm a foreigner in this country but i appreciate all your videos and the way you're make them and the quality of people that are get involved in! My respects !

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

Bravo to Ian for those amazing hands! A champion and another example of just getting on with life regardless!

[@Starman2319]

I know nothing else, Christopher. As you say, I just get on with it. Ian 👍

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

@@Starman2319 Good man. Grace Mandeville with the foreshortened right arm has exactly the same excellent attitude. Kind Regards C

[@thestationinspector]

Geoff: 3 people just got on! Me: it gets 26.96 passengers per day!

[@Acidlib]

The Station Inspector Always awkward when twenty-four twenty-fifths of a passenger stumbles on to the train at the end of the day

[@OliverKelly1999]

My maps took me past this today on my way home due to traffic and I was thinking, is this the least used station in Bedfordshire? What a coincidence!

[@harrierjames7727]

Had you not been driving then that might not be the case 😉

[@MadhuttyRotMG]

Finally, a station I've been to! One stop down the line is Stewartby, where there's a Parkrun at the lake a 10 min walk away which I also visit every so often

[@JeMappelleFrikandel]

Bring Ian more often on your trips.

[@btuckervideos4705]

Knowing this video, the ORR will find some way of lowering the figures of Aspley Guise to be the new Least Used Station video in the 2018-19 stats when they're released next month. Anything to keep the Least Used Station series going indefinitely. Saying that, I was on the Marston Vale line and 230005 the Saturday before you filmed this video Geoff. Brilliant video, and another great companion

[@brianartillery]

Another very interesting video. And Ian looked like a really nice bloke. Thanks for sharing.

[@liamculham8486]

Ah my home county! Hope you enjoyed your time there Geoff!

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

I have no route knowledge of the Marston vale line however, if I had to guess why one platform is so much longer than the other I would reckon it's because the longer platform has that platform starting signal (which also protects the level crossing), so trains would have to draw up shorter in that direction for signal sighting and to avoid the risk of a SPAD. Infact, heres a video about a SPAD against that starter, at Kempston Hardwick in 2006. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHmQpqqEqN6tnJI

[@chris1987uk1]

That’s me driving the Thameslink into Bedford 😂

[@marthaanderson2656]

totally willing to bet Aspley Guise lost out due to people going after your last visit there. I think one couple went as part of the August "have an adventure" campaign . I love these adventures and it will be fun seeing if there are any new ones that need to be visited. I would be thrilled to join you on one, though could not do any local native knowledge.

[@kamana6435]

When that D stock train went by the level crossing I heard the sound of D stock electric motors I swear!!

[@fetchstixRHD]

I think it's the gearing(?) that makes the noise, or so I've read...

[@kamana6435]

@@fetchstixRHD Yes that sound reasonable. I think the Diesel engines are quiet so other sounds can be heard more.

[@bfapple]

The D Trains have new AC motors fitted, it’s just a coincidence that they sound similar to the old motors.

[@annother3350]

I heard 'D-Train - you're the one for me' playing in my head!

[@stalban8687]

Great video....I used to travel down this route in the 80's and 90's this route was a haven for old stock and signalling

[@darrensibley3973]

There actually is a bank holiday service now - Sunday service to follow in 2021. There are ticket machines at all stations on this line, plus the smart card readers, but many have never been in service since they were installed this summer. The stewartby one is card only and has always been out of service. I can see trains pulling into this station from my house at night, the distant glow of the headlights. There is very little between here and that station. Still, it’s not the closest to me, so I have never used Kempston Hardwick!

[@xXPyrophorusXx]

Rainy day in my birth town. I love how all the shows (Least used station in..., All The Stations) have their own music.

[@alistairbell3935]

Surely the reason Platform 2 was extended was to provide for a longer overlap between the signal and the level crossing?

[@michaeldraper2323]

Platform 2 was extended back in 2002 when the signalling of the line was changed from semaphore signals same as Ridgmont due to there not being able to stagger the platforms like at Aspley Guise and Stewartby. The accessibility ramps were also installed at the same time and have never been in use since then

[@user-pu8ty1ki6l]

Yay, Least Used! So Surrey, North Yorkshire, and now Bedfordshire have all been re-visited and recieved updates on Least Used stations. And unless I'm mistaken there are 15 Counties yet to be featured on Least Used Stations; Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, Northumberland, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands, plus the City of London depending on whether Geoff includes that or not. Keep up the good work, I eagerly await the next instalment of this epic saga :)

[@typicalcitrus7848]

Isn't Durham Redcar British Steel?

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@typicalcitrus7848 Redcar is in Yorkshire

[@andyhill242]

That door beeper is pretty fierce! Had to turn my volume down!

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@simontay4851 Not everyone can see

[@AndreiTupolev]

Ah, Kempston Hardwick, a fine old Shakespearean actor , dear boy

[@HannahJ]

I think I’ve driven past Kempston Hardwick more than I’ve been on the train through it. Last time I went through the station on the train was catching the train from Wolverton to MK Central to Bletchley to Bedford - that was an adventure and done with a buggy! And at the start of the video I was thinking “why did you walk to St John’s when it’s one stop from the main station?” Which then became clear...

[@HannahJ]

For the retail park, it’s easier to use the bus from the main bus station and get off at the Park and Ride just around the corner. I guess it depends on how much space they would need for a halt near the retail park.

[@chrislodzinski9056]

I am an occasional user of this station, and I have walked up the ramps in the past. There are no footpaths/pavements leading to this station, a wheelchair bound person would have to be delivered by car. I have walked from the car auction to the station a number of times, but would not do so now because the road has become much busier.. Can't wait to try a District line trtain from Bedford to Bletchley!

[@rick081956]

If the folks in Bedfordshire are as gracious as Ian, it would be worth a trip

[@KINGLADUDU]

We're not. Well Luton ain't anyway

[@peebee143]

I'm sure that one of the stations along the Marston Vale used to have a vacuum operated platform extension which had to be connected to stopping trains to extend the platform for passengers to be able to use the train.

[@tobortine]

I love the grafitti behind Ian's head - *"Trains stop further down the platform"* _"if they turn up!"_

[@TheRip72]

The D trains have an issue with pollen clogging up air filters. Engineers have been working hard to correct this but it has caused many cancellations.

[@tobortine]

@@TheRip72 On the least used station! I can see why the frustration led someone to add that comment to the sign.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

On our line it should read "if they bother to stop at all"

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I slightly feel bad for Aspley Guise, I still remember the Aspley Guise song. We have a Bedford in NY, Bedford-Stuyvesant aka Bed-Stuy. The setting of Everybody Hates Chris

[@no1fanofthepals]

I actually didnt know there was a Bedford in NY and I live in the british one

[@fetchstixRHD]

Damn, I wanna go and watch some Everybody Hates Chris now, what a show...

[@SamAronow]

@@no1fanofthepals And New Bedford, Massachusetts. But almost every town in Massachusetts is named after a town in England.

[@RBXTrains]

Raise a hand.... for the London Midland....

[@alanchapman2768]

no1fanofthepals there's a Bedford in South Africa too

[@ryanc.3372]

Well, this station is about to get a lot more popular in the coming years with Universal Great Britain Resort.

[@CT_97]

Rumors of electrification and upgraded to 4 tracks too, about to get a whole lot busier round here lol

[@CT_97]

You can still see the old Kempston Station house next to the Retail Park where it runs behind, Geoff. - As a local I know this :)

[@rhydianedwards3457]

I very nearly ended up using this station a few years back. I was looking at buying a car at BCA (British Car Auctions) Bedford which is just down the road. Unfortunately that car ended bid too high for me so I ended up having to go to the slightly less exciting Peterbrorough to get my new wheels!

[@ianhenderson4560]

The Bedford-bound platform is longer to allow trains to stand in the platform behind the signal on the platform that protects the level crossing.

[@HatterDave]

You did well to remember the date there Geoff

[@briancrutchley1958]

Ticket machines were added some months ago along the whole line, along with the smart card readers, but they have yet to come into service. And I'm assured that there now is a Bank Holiday Monday service. The trains are busiest when students are travelling to college in the morning. An extra stop at the interchange retail park would be most welcome. Usually between Christmas and New Year the service is reduced to half.

[@cholomondeleybiscuitt]

As a boy in the 1970s, I used to travel from Lidlington to Bedford St.Johns every weekend for the 'day-out'. My friend lived in one of the (3?) cottages in Kempston Hardwick and always had to make sure he flagged down the train, otherwise it would just speed past, leaving him stranded and waiting on the next one. Bedford St.Johns also had station buildings back then (as did Lidlington), including ticket offices, toilets and coal-fire heated waiting rooms - in fact the whole works! 😄

[@avivicus]

I was litteraly on the line recently too got off at the station and had a look around nothing much going on

[@rogerbenest3164]

That Ford Focus at 4:50 came to a stop quickly when the light came on.

[@bfapple]

Roger Benest It wouldn’t have been able to cross before the red lights came on.

[@davidcollins9512]

@@bfapple they wanted to be in one of Geoff's videos !

[@ankhtahr1401]

I'm sick and in bed right now, but here's a video by Geoff to put a smile on my face!

[@AberdeenAviation]

ankhtahr Awesome hope you feel better soon

[@hesterclapp9717]

Is this on the Cambridge to Oxford line? I live on the east anglian end of it and it is now used for the guided busway and the mobile telescope place

[@6.tatertots]

I would like to see the least used station in County Durham (which is Teesside Airport I think)

[@johnhagen1307]

Best thing about Kempston Hardwick is the warm, friendly sound of the old underground train motors

[@golddalekwho5944]

Nice to see the old district line trains still chugging along 😄

[@isaactimmins8959]

Transport for Wales also has some,

[@robinjones6999]

Excellent -Thanks

[@tsguyoldchannel2691]

In all the (few) times I have been there I have never noticed that the alarm is slightly out of sync

[@martimei6246]

When are you going to do the least used station in bristol?

[@davejones3192]

lots of least used stations but have you done the request stops on the way to barnstaple from exeter st davids?

[@josephkent3469]

You should do roding valley (least used on the central line)

[@Karlinski73]

Hello Ian! Least Used Stations Companions of the World Unite! 👍👍

[@Starman2319]

I'm with you, Karl. Regards, Ian

[@dereknicol5284]

@@Starman2319 I didnt know you were a film star Ian, can i have your autograph?

[@Starman2319]

@@dereknicol5284 Nope. No star. No autographs 😁

[@sheep1981]

Starman2319 hello Ian. You still having those chips on Friday? Good to see you :0)

[@Starman2319]

@@sheep1981 I'm sorry, I've no idea what you are talking about.

[@TPhype-Discovery]

Geoff, how often do you take Thameslink Trains?

[@puttington4343]

It's so weird watching him walk around my own town

[@stephenholt4670]

I suspect there's an observer effect going on with these least used stations. Geoff makes a video, others are likely inspired to go and visit too, and the result is that some other station becomes the least used.

[@isaactimmins8959]

makes sense that way the series goes forever lol,

[@RichardWatt]

Is that D train one of the rebuilt/converted D stock from the Underground that's been upgraded to modern standards and battery charging ability?

[@norbitonflyer5625]

Yes, except these don't have the battery chargers, the electricity is generated on board by diesel engines.

[@PinkThorn242]

So Swift cards are rolling across the LNR network then?

[@AidanMmusic96]

I'll be interested to see what Staffordshire's least used station is!

[@ChewwieCarrotflowers]

What music plays during the titles? Around 0:50.

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

This line, I believe, will form part of the new Varsity Line from Oxford to Cambridge so its use will increase significantly.

[@hereticosjc]

I like Ian bring him back!

[@johnavery15]

Geoff I wonder if the one platform with the signal is longer than the other because drivers are not meant to stop close to signals. If they stop 150-200m from the signal customers can still alight or join as the platform is longer. Also, because of the level crossing it makes more sense to stay back especially if the signal is red and weather conditions are bad which could result in a possible SPAD/overrrun.

[@DT-hg7te]

Ever thought about doing the other half of the line beyond St John's? Get the bikes out in summer? I'd join you on that one in a heartbeat.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Love the D Trains. I never knew about the halts that closed in 1995. THey should definitely reopen them. The map made me think it's time the Newport Pagnell Branch was reopend to.

[@BritishAdam]

Another ace vid, let's hope the new stats coming soon don't make all these recent videos out dated and they stay the sameish!

[@jameslipscomb4916]

Now we need a Disused Accessible Ramps video

[@FusionDisnep257]

You should do some Least Used Stations in Scotland

[@peebee143]

Travelled from Kempston Hardwick in Summer '18 after dropping a car off at the BCA site nearby. Into Bedford station, walk to bus stop, bus to country end of Kempston to collect another car.

[@mohammedazizurrahman8348]

hey geoff can u do a least used station on train lines like least used c2c station ans southern and more

[@ziggarillo]

I enjoyed this for no particular reason

[@JamesSmith-gh5el]

Ian is great

[@peebee143]

There is a small parking area adjacent to the hamlet side of the station.

[@glenfowler1404]

Hi Geoff when are you going to do Perth WA train and find the least used station in Perth western Australia from glen

[@ToilerOnTheSea]

Are the Geoff Least Used Station videos having an effect on the numbers, as people purposefully go visit them?

[@kayleighjoyce1276]

Geoff could you do Northampton Station please :) we have also had a new line open so a direct train from Northampton (Well Euston via Northampton) to Liverpool Lime Street :) thank you x

[@Trockenshampooleopard]

Did you count the steps at Bedford St.John's?

[@annother3350]

I saw Jeff's Hardwick - oooh!!

[@JoshuaHere]

A station for Kempston either on the line to Bletchley or Luton seems like a good idea.

[@jolyblack865]

No joke, I swear to god... I am watching this video whilst on the marathon vale line train pulling into Kempston hardwick!! How very situational 😂❤️

[@jolyblack865]

Marston*

[@rickyzuc]

It’s been two years since the Aspley Guise video?! Geeze?!

[@effie1349]

I feel old lol

[@Eddyspeeder]

My first thought: oh no, was Aspley Guise dethroned?!

[@edwilson5416]

That's one my favourite Geoff videos. The guy with the guitar is fantastic.

[@darrenlawn3222]

The D stock is what they are going to use on the Isle of Wight I believe. We as islander would have preferred a light transit system.

[@tychobotter]

Ian should come along more often

[@danielwild4360]

Hey Geoff Still waiting to see you on the Tram-Train in Rotherham and Sheffield and also it would be nice to see the least used station in South Yorkshire

[@richardhutchinson5546]

Cant do it at the moment as the Tram-Train service is currently suspended

[@iandrury710]

This is the old Varsity Line isn't it?

[@jmoran8029]

You should do a least used stations In Cambridgeshire, would love to know what it is. Also I think Cambridge actually opened a new railway station named Cambridge North a few years back. All the best j

[@zaphod888]

Yeah they did, it’s up near the science park. Makes sense since Cambridge station is up a narrow, congested street quite close to the middle of town so it’s utter chaos around there at peak times. Shifting all the science park traffic somewhere else has helped a fair bit.

[@bobparsons77]

Was at Bedford school 1957-1963. Bob Alberta.

[@trainspotter1012]

I meet Ian before when I went train spotting at Bedford

[@Fairgroundking1]

i do believe LNWR is planning on getting new trains from the midlands including the birmingham and surrounding lines that the franchise run i also believe that the new trains will trickle down to the marston valley line so that maybe the reason why they have extended the platform?

[@craigr9881]

Hello Ian 👋🏻

[@ReNewReViews1]

Please pop in to St albans City... We are all awaiting the day we meet you.. so close seeing you come past

[@highpath4776]

Least Used Station in St Albans ?

[@paveladamek3502]

It is funny how I always think that the "least used" station is smack in the middle of nowhere, and yet there is a town with 19k inhabitants almost in plain view.

[@sergiobasilioli384]

Wow you went to Bedford my birth city!

[@Danokoten]

Alot better than our old tube stock on the Isle of Wight

[@OscarTipperTV]

I use this station every time to get to Birmingham as it only costs £5, think I account for about half the journeys

[@marcuspotter5590]

How do you manage that?

[@OscarTipperTV]

Marcus Potter Going via Bletchley is the key

[@isaactimmins8959]

@@OscarTipperTV Bletchley will soon be a key interchange again although I don't think the LNWR D trains will be on the whole Oxford-Bedford route unless its split which seems likely with the flyover dismantlement,

[@caino3645]

When is least used in Devon?

[@paulcarney6819]

As a Bedford local I would say you did well to get 13 mins of usable footage about Kempston Hardwick station. Kempston itself is hardly a village any longer and is just morphing into a Bedford over spill area with an insufficient travel structure.